Markstrom, Comets Come Calling

Two teams with unusual starts to their seasons collide tomorrow night at the AT&T Center when the Utica Comets and former Rampage goaltender Jacob Markstrom check into the visitors locker room. Faceoff is 7:30 p.m.

The Rampage are 2-0 for the first time since 2007, co-incidentally one of the three San Antonio playoff years, while the Comets are 1-0-1 after winning 2-1 behind Markstrom against the Toronto Marlies before losing in the rematch Sunday in overtime, 3-2.

The Rampage, meanwhile, won a pair of 3-2 decisions — one in regulation — the next in OT against Iowa and Oklahoma City.

Markstrom departed last season at the trade deadline and reported to Vancouver when the Canucks traded Roberto Luongo back to Florida. Markstrom, however, plied his trade on the Canucks bench behind fellow Swedish countryman and 6-6 netminder, Eddie Lack, posting one win in four games, three as a starter.

When new Vancouver general manager Jim Benning signed veteran goaltender Ryan Miller in the off-season, Markstrom appeared to be the odd-man out. The Canucks put Markstrom on waivers, but no NHL team put in a claim, so here he is back in the AHL, making $1.4 million to play in the minors, perhaps until an NHL netminder goes down.

Markstrom was always labeled the “best goaltender NOT in the NHL,” but has yet to live up to expectations, posting a 12-27-5 record with a 3.19 goals against and sub-900 save percentage. Now the former second-round draft pick did play for the underwhelming Panthers, and never really had the top job from day one. Let’s just say Markstrom is still working on his potential.

He’s been around for so long that it’s easy to overlook the sensational Swede is only 24. And let’s face it, behind Chris Mason in the Rampage’s first year, and the yeoman’s work of Travis Scott, Markstrom is most likely the third best goaltender in Rampage history. His work in the playoff run vs. Chicago and Oklahoma City was magical at times. A great save in the double overtime Game 5 contest in Chicago set up the series winning goal by defenseman Roman Derlyuk.

Markstrom worked hard, had a great attitude waiting his turn here in the Alamo City. He was an excellent ambassador for the team and the game and led the team on the ice from the back end.

But the Panthers, although heaping praise on the young goaltender, were content to stick with veteran masked men, giving the crease to Jose Theodore and Scott Clemmensen, and then Tim Thomas, Clemmensen and current Rampage goaltender, Dan Ellis over Markstrom. When they seemed poised to give the reigns to Markstrom, he stubbed his toe a couple of nights.

Panthers GM Dale Tallon sent the Gavle native to the Canucks to bring Luongo back to Sunrise and its sub-10,000 crowds.

How will Markstrom perform in his return to the AT&T Center, where many a night he stood tall fighting off opponents in the final minutes of games?

Come out and check it out tomorrow night, barring a call-up to the Canucks, Markstrom should get the start.

Worst Sports Idea In a Long Time

The Adirondack Flames are a mess. They’ve lost three straight games by a combined 14-4 score. And the transplanted Abbotsford Heat no longer have a mascot.

Scorch has been doused because of an inane skit that offended everyone in the stadium and anyone who may have heard about the stupid stunt.

The short-lived mascot overcame a firefighter in the skit. Yep, killed the first responder. Who on the Flames staff thought this was a clever, cute idea needs to be extinguished as well.

Besides being the most stupid looking mascot on the planet, this would like the Rampage trotting out TBone to ram Davy Crockett in front of the Alamo. Didn’t anyone think, “this might not be a good idea?”

In a release today, the Flames, run by former Rampage general manager and overall good guy Brad Treliving in Calgary, said the team is looking for a new mascot as Scorch will no longer threaten emergency crews. Cheech.